Speeches by Harding.

“On the SPRiNG programme, which is FCDO funded, experts regularly raise the importance of localising responses to instability. The SPRiNG programme funding, however, goes almost entirely to a private sector contractor. Are you content that Tetra Tech works sufficiently closely with local organisations?”

“How far did she have to travel?”

“Hélène, that is really helpful, thank you. Specifically in terms of gold, you say that the UK can leverage its influence. What does that look like in practice?”

“So are you saying that the sanctions have been useful or not? Or could they be better?”

“Alongside what is happening on the west bank, in Lebanon, more than 1 million people have been forcibly displaced. The Guardian has reported that Israeli strikes on medical facilities in Nabatieh have killed health workers and ambulance crews; it notes that such incidents are becoming increasingly common. The UN is cle…”

“And then it goes out of Dubai into Hong Kong and Switzerland and into—”

“So are you saying that the sanctions have been useful or not? Or could they be better?”

“Can I just clarify that? Are you saying that the gold goes via Dubai?”

“Are you aware of any programmes that are being cut by the UK?”

“Turning to armed actors, how can we hold them to account? What are the challenges there?”

“I want to ask one more question on gold. Most people in the UK are not aware that the gold around their neck comes from conflict zones. How difficult would a campaign such as blood diamonds be for conflict gold? Obviously, you cannot easily trace the country of origin, so how difficult would that be for a public campai…”

“Are you aware of any programmes that are being cut by the UK?”

“How far did she have to travel?”

“Hélène, that is really helpful, thank you. Specifically in terms of gold, you say that the UK can leverage its influence. What does that look like in practice?”

“Can I just clarify that? Are you saying that the gold goes via Dubai?”

“I want to ask one more question on gold. Most people in the UK are not aware that the gold around their neck comes from conflict zones. How difficult would a campaign such as blood diamonds be for conflict gold? Obviously, you cannot easily trace the country of origin, so how difficult would that be for a public campai…”

“And then it goes out of Dubai into Hong Kong and Switzerland and into—”

“Turning to armed actors, how can we hold them to account? What are the challenges there?”

“Of course it is really important that we bring fares down, but we also need to make sure that the trains actually work. In February, 5.82% of all South West Railway services were cancelled on the main line that runs through my constituency. I wonder whether the Minister thinks those figures are accurate, but they are v…”

“This is such an important debate. My constituency is the single biggest contributor to the Exchequer of any constituency outside London, yet we were completely missed out from the tap in, tap out roll-out. I wrote to the Minister to ask why, and he did not tell me when we would be included. On behalf of my constituents…”